Enhanced pharmacist experience on the NHS England Pathfinder Independent Pharmacist Prescriber initiative
University of Manchester and ICF International have published a report on the NHS England’s Pathfinder Independent Pharmacist Prescriber programme which highlights that pharmacists who participated found a significant increase in job satisfaction and one pharmacist credited the benefits of the roll out of the system as the reason for not leaving the profession. The report goes on to explore elements of the programme and how digital technologies including CLEO EPS brought this to life.
Richard Burton, Commercial Director at CLEO Systems said: “We welcome the findings of the University of Manchester and ICF International report, which highlight the positive impact of the NHS England Pathfinder Independent Pharmacist Prescriber Programme on job satisfaction and retention within the pharmacy profession. While we are proud that CLEO EPS has supported pharmacists in delivering safe, efficient prescribing, it is important to recognise that the success of this programme is the result of a collective effort. The improvements cited in the report stem from a combination of factors - expanded clinical roles, robust governance, and strong collaboration between NHS England, pharmacy teams, and technology partners. The CLEO Systems mission is to simplify connected care and we are committed to working alongside stakeholders and technology partners to provide innovative clinically safe integrated solutions. The Pathfinder project has been a successful pilot, enabling pharmacists to deliver seamless high-quality, patient-centred care. We believe technology should empower professionals as part of the broader systemic changes that make these outcomes possible.”
The aim of the Pathfinder programme was to develop a framework for independent prescribing for patients in primary care, anticipating the situation in September 2026, when all newly qualified pharmacists will be registered as independent prescribers. It is the first programme to nationally fund community pharmacy to prescribe for NHS services.
Since 2024, the team at CLEO Systems has worked with NHS England to roll out CLEO EPS - a stand-alone electronic prescribing solution across community pharmacies in England, enabling pharmacists in the community to prescribe for minor illnesses, long term conditions and novel illnesses. Around 190 pharmacies across England are live and using CLEO to prescribe for patients.
CLEO EPS digitises the process of creating FP10 prescriptions and is achieving remarkable benefits for users where it has been deployed, including a vastly improved patient experience as well as the eradication of lost, stolen and illegible scripts, which in turn enhances patient safety.
‘'I was very deflated with community pharmacy, I was actually going to leave, and really wanted to use my clinical skills and really wanting to utilise, I suppose, the prescribing qualification as well. So Pathfinder saved me, really, because it just gave me that something that I was looking for, [it’s] really given me a lot of job satisfaction but also spread that background of me understanding how important collaboration was. … When the two of us sort of collaborated on this project, it was just, like, a dream where…you know, he’s really supported me, really pushed me out of my comfort zone and enabled me to have a massive upskill.” Lead IP pharmacist
David Brown, Managing Director, CLEO Systems said: “This report reinforces what we believe deeply: when clinicians are empowered with the right digital tools and the right governance, their ability to deliver care is transformed. The Pathfinder programme has shown that independent prescribing in community pharmacy is not only viable, but pivotal to a modern, resilient NHS. As we look ahead to 2026 and the Community Pharmacy transitions to all newly qualified pharmacists registering as independent prescribers, the need for safe, robust, connected digital solutions has never been greater. CLEO Systems remains fully committed to supporting this evolution. Our role is to ensure that pharmacists, their teams, and partners across the health ecosystem are equipped with technology that enables them to operate at the top of their profession. This is a transitional step for community pharmacy, and we are proud to contribute to a programme that is already shaping the future of primary and community care. We will continue to invest, collaborate, and innovate to help deliver a healthcare system that is more accessible, more efficient, and more connected, for clinicians and patients alike.”
